Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

The member for La Trobe knows whose side he is on. He is on the side of the Australian taxpayers who want value for money for infrastructure projects.

The Leader of the Opposition cannot stay on the side of this union thug. This is a quote from John Setka, who said this week:

Let me give a dire warning to the ABCC inspectors: be careful what you do …

…   …   …

We will lobby their neighbourhoods. We will tell them who lives in that house. …

They will not be able to show their faces anywhere. Their kids will be ashamed of who their parents are …

Decent Australians are disgusted and they are revolted by these bullying tactics, and we are on their side. On this side of the chamber, we are on their side. John Setka and the CFMEU construction division make Norm Gallagher and the BLF look like a bunch of choirboys.

Bob Hawke actually deregistered the BLF. This leader of the Labor Party continues to accept CFMEU money in the form of political donations. John Setka has gone too far, and those opposite know that. The member for Grayndler has supported the police being called in to investigate John Setka's comments, but the current Leader of the Opposition has only 'disassociated' himself from the remarks. It is not good enough to slap them with a wet lettuce. The Leader of the Opposition needs to abandon all ties with the CFMEU and to stop accepting their donations.

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